Miraculous Rescue: Fawn Rescued After Tragic Hit-and-Run

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A Michigan A police officer saved a fawn — the lone survivor among triplets — after its mother was tragically hit by a vehicle and went into early labor due to trauma.

Frank Wright, who works as an officer for the White Lake Township Police Department, attended to a vehicle collision involving a deer on Highland Road during the evening hours of Tuesday.

Upon arrival, he discovered that the deceased mother doe was pregnant and, due to the impact, in the process of delivering triplets, according to the department .

Sadly, out of the three fawns, two were already deceased; however, Wright soon observed that one had indications of having been involved in a struggle.

'It started breathing a little better and made noise, so I knew, uh oh, this one might make it,' Wright told Fox 2 News .

"I could tell that there was still some shallow breathing, so I grabbed it by the back legs and allowed it to empty the fluids from its lungs," he explained.

'As soon as it made a sound, I realized this deer could possibly be alright.'

The officer from the South eventually succeeded in delivering the fawn, warming it at the location, and reviving it until it started breathing independently.

'I grew up in West Virginia and kind of grew up on a farm, so I knew how to take care of animals, especially ones that are going into labor,' Wright told Fox News.

Given his experience with delivering many lambs and calves previously, he was well aware of what the fawn required—goat’s milk and a cozy blanket—and the early arrival, weighing six pounds, started showing signs of improvement after feeding from the bottle.

Once the young deer was rescued, it was taken back to the police station. There, law enforcement personnel took turns caring for the fawn—giving him milk through a vibrant pink bottle and ensuring he had a warm place to sleep.

The fawn required only a name at this point, which the night crew selected with great appropriateness: Tiny Meijer, referencing the grocery store situated right over the street from his birthplace.

Realizing that he required specific attention, the Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) intervened to accept Baby Meijer into their care and keep nurturing him until he could be transitioned to his new residence.

'The wildlife rehabilitation center en route has been designated as Baby Meijer’s new residence,' stated the police department on their Facebook page.

'Sometimes in this job you see and do things you have never done before,' it added. 'We can now mark deer birthing and deer neonatal care off the list. Best of luck with your life Baby Meijer!!!'

On Thursday, the rescue group shared an update that while Meijer remained weak, his vital signs were stable and showing signs of improvement.

The rescue group shared a second update to Facebook on Friday, posting a heartwarming photo of Baby Meijer seemingly taking his first steps through a garden.

'Our little fella went for full body X-rays and he does have two small hip fractures in addition to aspiration pneumonia from before we received him, which we expected, and had him started on antibiotics Wednesday,' DAWG wrote in the post.

The antibiotics are proving effective, with improvements noted in his breathing and body temperature.

The team stated that although Baby Meijer doesn't qualify for surgery right now, they have planned follow-up X-rays in two weeks, and the veterinarian remains optimistic about his recovery without requiring any procedures.

'Their eating game is impressive,' they commented.

By Saturday morning, the rescue organization reported that Baby Meijer had gained weight, increasing from 6.1 pounds to 7.4 pounds.

A picture posted showed the small deer’s enclosure labeled with a ‘Meijer’ name tag akin to what employees use. The caption read, "He is still dealing with the aspiration pneumonia he arrived with, so let's all keep him in our thoughts!"

For now, it seems Baby Meijer is on the road to a long, healthy life, surrounded by care, hope and a community rooting for him.

None of this would have happened if Officer Wright wasn't in the right spot at the perfect moment — his compassionate nature and southern expertise ended up being crucial in saving a life during the critical juncture.

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